Cas didn't mean to stab anyone that day.
Really.
He'd been hoping for something peaceful. A bath. Maybe even a nap. But peace wasn't a luxury people like him and Evren got to have anymore.
Especially not when someone sent a Purger Squad straight into Brielle's hidden glade.
It started with the birds.
They stopped singing.
Then the sky darkened—not cloud-dark, but spell-dark, like someone had thrown a veil over the sun. Brielle cursed, grabbed her twin daggers, and threw Evren a loaded look.
"You bring that prince into my house and suddenly the sky wants to kill us. Typical."
Evren stood calmly, tying back his hair.
Cas, not so calmly, grabbed his belt knife. "What's happening?"
"Church dogs," Brielle said. "Sanctioned purgers. They come in threes. Always."
As if on cue, the spell-dark mist parted—and three figures in obsidian armor stepped through, their faces hidden behind masks shaped like screaming angels.
🔔 SYSTEM ALERT
Combat Initiated – Threat Level: Moderate
Warden-Keeper Pair Sync: 21%
Shared Abilities Enabled:• Guarding Pulse – Projective shield for bonded partner• Empathic Boost – Strength increases when protecting bonded
Evren stepped in front of Cas, sword drawn.
"Stay behind me."
Cas ignored him and stepped beside him instead. "No."
Evren gave him a sharp look.
"I'm not just some farmer with a pitchfork," Cas said. "We're in this together. Or the bond won't hold."
Evren's jaw tightened. Then—nod.
"Fine," he said. "Let's show them what we are."
⚔️ The Fight
The purgers attacked fast—one casting curses, one wielding twin blades, the third with a warhammer that cracked the earth with every step.
Evren met them head-on, a whirlwind of silver and precision.
Cas stayed back, eyes glowing faintly as the Keeper magic activated instinctively. He raised his hand and felt the bond thread stretch—and shield Evren just in time to deflect a cursed bolt aimed at his spine.
➤ Guarding Pulse ActivatedEvren: Damage Reduced (25%)
Cas: Emotional Surge – adrenaline spike
⚠️ New Combo Unlocked: Heartshield Counter• Parry + Guard = Explosive retaliatory strike
Evren's blade flared, and he spun, slicing the twin-blade purger clean across the chest. He didn't stop.
"Cas! On your left!"
Cas turned—too late.
The warhammer came down—except it didn't hit him.
Brielle tackled the attacker with a scream, dragging him into a ward trap and shoving both into a pit of spike-laced vines. The scream that followed made Cas wince.
"Two down," Brielle called, panting. "Third's yours."
The caster hissed and lifted her hands, summoning a chain of burning holy script.
Evren moved to intercept—but Cas moved faster.
He reached out, felt the bond thread ignite like fire in his veins—and threw up a shimmering shield between them and the caster.
It cracked—but didn't break.
Evren was already behind her by the time she realized she'd been tricked. His blade found her heart. She fell.
Silence.
Smoke curled around the ruins again. The birds didn't return.
Aftermath
They regrouped by the fire again—this time bloodied, bruised, and quiet. Brielle muttered something about "needing new wards," then vanished into the forest.
Cas sat on a stone, still buzzing with the afterglow of magic.
Evren sat beside him. "You fought well."
Cas blinked. "Is that a compliment?"
"Don't get used to it."
They were close again. Too close. Cas could still feel his heartbeat echoing through the bond. He turned to say something sarcastic—
—but Evren was already looking at him. Really looking.
Like maybe he hadn't expected Cas to survive. Like maybe it scared him a little how much that mattered.
Cas's throat went dry.
He didn't look away.
🔔 Emotional Sync Increased: 29%
New Emotion Registered: Protective AttachmentNew Passive Skill Available: Tethered Focus – +5% Power when defending each other in battle
Evren stood, abruptly. "Get some rest."
Cas frowned. "Are you—?"
"I'm fine," he said too fast.
And just before walking off, he muttered—so softly Cas almost missed it:
"…You scared me today."
Then he was gone.
Cas sat there alone, heart racing for a reason that had nothing to do with battle.